Arsenal are on their way to winning their 14th English top-flight title this season, with them atop the Premier League table with 64 points from 29 matches. And, much of their prowess is partially down to Gunners set-piece coach Nicolas Jover.
Arsenal Set-Piece Coach Benefits From Club’s Goals
Arsenal have cemented themselves as the masters of dead-ball situations this season, owing to their effective set-piece routines and the aerial dominance of their defenders like Gabriel Magalhaes. They have scored 16 Premier League goals from corner-kicks this term.
The north London club scored twice from corner-kicks in their 2-1 home league win against Chelsea earlier on Sunday. Following the victory, they equaled the record for the most goals netted from corner-kicks in a single Premier League campaign, according to Opta.
And, according to The Athletic, Jover has a set-piece incentive in his contract. The German-born French coach is paid every time his side scores from a set piece.
Jover, a former Brentford coach, spent two years as Manchester City’s set-piece coach from 2019 to 2021, briefly working alongside Arteta. He followed the Spanish coach to Arsenal in 2021 and helped the club net 16 league goals from corner kicks in the 2023-24 season.
After guiding the Gunners to second-place finishes in the Premier League, he was handed a new deal at the club. The Frenchman, who was linked to rival teams at the time, reportedly used his strong negotiating position to have the aforesaid clause inserted in his deal.
READ MORE:Â Chelsea Captain Comments on Arsenal Scoring 2 Set-Piece Goals
Meanwhile, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has revealed he does not enjoy the Premier League’s recent obsession with set-pieces. When asked at a press conference to provide his two cents on the current style of soccer prevalent in England, Slot replied, “First of all, you have to accept it. I think it is mainly here in the Premier League.”
The Premier League-winning boss added, “If I watch other leagues, I don’t think there is so much emphasis on set-pieces. Here you can almost hit a goalkeeper in his face, the referee will say, ‘Just go on’. Do I like it? My football heart doesn’t like it. Now, most of the games I see in the Premier League are not, for me, a joy to watch. But, it is always interesting as it is so competitive. That’s what makes it great because there is so much competitiveness.”
On the other hand, Arsenal will next face Brighton & Hove Albion, who are in 11th spot with 37 points from 28 games, in a Premier League home contest on Wednesday, March 4.
